I think it's incredibly refreshing how you discussed Ikaruga. So much online game crit deals in extremes where a game is either "bad" or "good", but you did a helluva job tackling a game you don't particularly like with nuance. That's exactly what KZfaq needs
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks I appreciate that. A lot of people liked that segment and it came out really well. It was easy to write as that’s kind of how I’ve felt about it for a long time. And just wanted to lend an alternate perspective on it vs the typical gushing praise. It’s brilliant but that doesn’t mean you’ll like it. It’s ok to not and still appreciate what it did.
@justsayin46323 жыл бұрын
Agreed. That segment was really fantastic and spot-on in its analysis. So much so, that I’m scared I might actually be “hates-it-but-pretends-to-love-it” 😂 Even the part where you said “if it’s mistakenly your first shmup cuz you’ve heard all the praise…”, lol guilty as charged🤣 Tho, it gateway’d me into wall mounting my tv on a rotating mount for vertically oriented shooters so I could easily go back and forth between horizontal/vertical orientation games (TOTALLY worth it) I was just glad to hear that MAZ has devoted 1000+ hours into it. I can fully appreciate and respect THAT. But if you had said he 1cc’d it on his third try or something, I might have retired from games entirely😂
@noop9k2 жыл бұрын
Just yesterday was explaining to a friend how I gave up on Ikaruga, when saw a port on his Switch.
@noop9k2 жыл бұрын
By the way, there’s an Ikaruga-style metroidvania called Outland. No idea why it is so little known.
@AAron2020xydfg2 жыл бұрын
@@noop9k outland looks pretty good I think I'll give it a go
@mazstg88443 жыл бұрын
OMG I am famous!🤣Jokes aside, starring in a junkie video was a real pleasure! And every single segment of the video turned out really good
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
You should be famous, or will be even more I hope when you achieve that 30mil plus score. Thank you again for all of your feedback and help. The community needs more humble, expert players like yourself to offset the not so humble terrible ones haha.
@mazstg88443 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the kind words man!
@baf__3 жыл бұрын
insane job maz!
@AlexKrasnyPrime3 жыл бұрын
That’s nuts
@thegreathadoken68083 жыл бұрын
I know the struggles of Ikaruga. I have felt the pain. I have had my face ripped off and repeatedly thrust up my rectum by that game. You routinely make Ikaruga your bitch. That is to be revered as the god-like feat that it is.
@CrossoverGameReviews3 жыл бұрын
Oh boy! Ikaruga is a work of art! More than just a shmup, it is a video game masterpiece. But I only play to survive and I don't know what I'm doing half the time. Still, so much fun to switch polarity and eat the bullets rather than avoid them. Not that I don't mind dodging, but seeing those bullets that would usually kill you actually make you stronger, that's some meta stuff right there. It's also the first shmup I played in tate mode. I got it on Steam so I can flip my laptop or my external monitor to the side. Oh man, THIS is how you play shmups!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Ikaruga has been ported so well to every system. Something about the game's code transitions well. I don't know a single port, whether Gamecube, Dreamcast, Switch or Steam that didn't play great and perform well. It's so well optimized. And I'm glad it brought new people into the genre and got them to experiment with other shmups too. You know it's a good game when people who don't like it can admit it's still really good.
@johnbailey29333 жыл бұрын
The best thing I can say about Ikaruga is that it lead me to search out (and enjoy other SHMUPs), otherwise I am in Group 3. The Gamecube and Switch Copies on my bookshelf stare at me like Chucky dolls, daring me to play with them yet one more time. Great video!!!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
I’d rather have Ikaruga staring at me from the shelf than chucky dolls 🤣 but they’re equally scary. It really was many people’s entry point just from popularity and I’m glad it got you interested. I know many that played it first and never wanted to play shmups again, assuming they’re all that hard. They figured if this is one of the best, then it’s not for them.
@Chinopolis3 жыл бұрын
Absolutely loved this one! I'm happy to have been able to help showcase Border Down, it's really is a hidden gem. It's easy to overlook the Dreamcast when it comes to shmups as it didn't have an extensive library compared to the Saturn or PC engine, etc. but the ones it did have are some real heavy hitters. That segment on Ikaruga was perfect. I haven't played it myself and would probably fall in the category of wants to like it but can't with how puzzle like it is, but seeing MAZ's masterclass really opened my eyes to why it truly is a classic.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
I’m glad you were able to help with BD as it’s got some complexity to it, so it definitely improved my take on the game. I wanted to get the border system right. The DC definitely wins out over PS2 on the overall shmup library which is impressive given its short life and the massive success Sony had. I realize now how incredibly hard most were which makes sense given their arcade roots. MAZ was super helpful on Ikaruga too and I’m sure it’s a game you could 1CC when you set out for it if you haven’t already. It supposedly provides a ton of extends to work with as you chain so you can die quite a bit like in an early Aleste game and power through it.
@chrismoon29612 жыл бұрын
LOL the Go Play Mars Matrix meme will never die. Great review!
@ShmupJunkie2 жыл бұрын
If someone was going to resurrect it for an encore it was gonna be Timmy boy 🤣.
@ajsingh45453 жыл бұрын
Man you deserve at least 100k views for this quality content. Keep em coming.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks dude. Sorry I missed this comment until just now. I thought this video was a lot of fun too. It was good to switch gears and do the Beginner shmups video, even for my own sanity haha. Much easier on the ol' sphincter versus these kicking my ass, but I'm gonna get back to it sooner or later.
@ajsingh45453 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie All good man, you liked the comment and that is good enough for me.
@PikaStu6663 жыл бұрын
Watching Maz’s Ikaruga gameplay is almost hypnotic. Absolutely beautiful! Jeez... I didn’t even know there was a homing weapon 😂
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Hahaha well now you know and it’ll definitely help if you play next. It’s an important part of your arsenal. MAZ is a beast I’m glad I could use his gameplay, it’s the only way to do the game justice.
@darkinbrown84902 жыл бұрын
“Drive it like you stole it” yo your metaphors are KILLING MEEEEE!!!!😂😂😂
@titaniclance58373 жыл бұрын
Love your even handed review of Ikaruga. I always thought I was on the outside not enjoying the game but appreciating the presentation of it. Highly enjoy your videos!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
There are many of us in the closet haha, who appreciate the game but don't enjoy it as much as we should. I struggled with getting my personal view across while still paying it the homage it deserves.
@dire513 жыл бұрын
I'd love to see you tackle the hardest NES shooters, simply because there are so many good ones you never hear about.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
It's going to happen, I only fear for when it's time to play Recca 😂
@reagandow8503 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie - oooh man!! I will absolutely bow to you if you can master that bad boy!! ;)
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
@@reagandow850 It got its name cause it’ll Recca yo ass 🤣
@dire513 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie heh, this is going to be good.
@Sinistar19833 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie would ya believe that was my first shooter. Since I didn't know steel empire was on the 3ds. And I've managed to max out the score after a year of playing.
@GodHandplayers3 жыл бұрын
Dude, you do an amazing work! Really, really good stuff. In-depth, touched by your own experience and giving due credits to the higher tier players out there. People just cant fake this level of passion. Hope you do continue, we really apreciate it.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thank you I really do try and have a lot of fun with it. I always want to try and get other serious players involved and get their input and gameplay when I can, it's a great insight into the game we don't often get. I'll definitely keep making videos long as I'm able and enjoy it. It's only been a year since I started!
@TheIccy2 жыл бұрын
The xoxak reference at the start of this video is pure joy.
@ShmupJunkie2 жыл бұрын
How could I do a video on Mars Matrix and not do something fun for old times sake.
@6vibe1503 жыл бұрын
Nice been waiting for this Sunday upload
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Hope you enjoyed the watch. Sorry just catching up with old comments I missed.
@johnmecca90083 жыл бұрын
Regular mortals would look at this video and be like, “it ain’t that serious”. It’s those people who Don’t have respect for the insane amount of skill it takes to play this game right. It really is a gem.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Maybe if they fancy themselves as the shiznit 🤣. I think most people look at these games as something they could never play or are way too hard. For experts only if you’re hardcore. STGs have gotten that reputation. Though I’m trying to counteract that with a lot of my vids (not this one lol). But yeah, the hardest games like these do take skill and tons of practice. I haven’t 1cc’d most of them.
@MadPanicGaming3 жыл бұрын
I'm one of those people that just likes Ikaruga, don't love it or hate it. It's fun enough but yeah, I'd rather play any of the other games on this list. Great video as usual, you're killing it with this series!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks dude! I’m honored you still watch some of my stuff. Making these is painful but also fun. I’m doing a shmups for beginners episode now I needed the break 😅
@kurisuchiinathecrocodile3333 жыл бұрын
imho Gradius V is still best Treasure's shmup. But Ikaruga and Radiant Silvergun are still interesting and gorgeous.
@polybius223 жыл бұрын
So stoked to see the much awaited Dreamcast episode! Some pretty great games here.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
It's been a long time coming. I was putting it off because I knew how tough some of the games are haha, but it's an awesome set of picks. I thought it came out well.
@polybius223 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie Yeah I especially enjoyed your approach on the Ikaruga segment. For me, playing to survive is humbling enough yet it is hard to deny just what a masterpiece it is. Mars Matrix is definitely one of my favorites though... everyone should go play MM hah
@GotNextVideo3 жыл бұрын
A lot of people make that assumption about Border Down being made by Metal Black staff, because of the obvious similarities and the fact that they came from Taito, but that's not the case. In fact they would have been kids when it came out. G.Darius was the first game those guys worked on right out of college. They did hire the composer of Metal Black to do the soundtrack though, and Maruyama obviously took a lot of inspiration from that game.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
That's good to know so thank you for that insight. They sure did the staff proud, as honestly Border Down is a better game to me than Metal Black, as cool and experimental as it was. Border Down is fantastic.
@GotNextVideo3 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie No doubt, they learned from the greats and took it to the next level, Border Down is more than worthy of the Darius and Metal Black legacies.
@intilagos-brown52323 жыл бұрын
my friend used to play border down in the mid 2000s and his route was red border all the way, he got the 1cc too, brutal game.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Dude he must have been a beast! That's like a no death, way beyond me! haha.
@dent4f6613 жыл бұрын
lmao the tribute to xoxak is sooo good. I love this video Junkie! Outstanding.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks! It was fun coming up with that part and I wanted to just keep going with it, but at some point I was like, alright Timmys had his fun I gotta say something interesting about this game 😅
@J-D-P Жыл бұрын
You had me creasing me up on this one!!! Genuinely, very fun and funny! (fun idea for a drinking game. Every time Mars Matrix is said, everyone take a shot! Everyone would be hammered in 3 minutes! :D)
@ShmupJunkie Жыл бұрын
There was no way I could do a Mars Matrix segment and not reference the classic Xoxak stuff. I was cracking up on those videos back when I practically didn't even watch youtube.
@J-D-P Жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie I was genuinely laughing out loud. It was a good time!!!
@oneeyedking2023 жыл бұрын
I see shmup junkie I hit like. I’m a man of cultured taste.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Oh yes, that thumbnail just oozes culture 😂. I'm glad I have enough folks that enjoy my ridiculous humor
@Retro-Lover3 жыл бұрын
Great video as always! You're becoming my favorite KZfaq channel and I'm happy to support you on patreon
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks! I'm really glad you do and I appreciate the support as well. What is your name on there so I can recognize you? I have a dedicated role for patrons on my discord too. And you'll be getting to watch videos commercial free pretty soon once I have it all ready to go.
@Retro-Lover3 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie I'll message you on Patreon so I don't reveal too much info on KZfaq.
@WXSTANG11 ай бұрын
Dude, I absolutely loved Ikaruga. Legit! I could beat it on hard... not as good as the player you got... but close. The last boss with both your lasers going at the same time is absolutely nuts.
@ShmupJunkie11 ай бұрын
You're the few and the proud to finish it on hard man. MAZ is nuts and playing towards world records with how much time he still puts into the game.
@lock78523 жыл бұрын
Im so happy Border Down got so much love,great video junkie,Happy Easter!Play MarsMatrix!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Heck yeah, Border Down is criminally rare and not well known. It's such a well designed game all around, take no prisoners. I'm sure part of it was the steep difficulty without many ways to practice, but not much different from G Darius at the time.
@KaysAnimus Жыл бұрын
The notes about Ikaruga are SUPER important. I do twitch play and arcade play well enough and I can't take on a super demanding shooter, BUT, I will always love watching a pro play Ikaruga from the start to the end. I think the game is a very unique case where even the pedestrian gamer that can't play it can appreciate it, like a music standard that everyone knows, or a commonly appreciated painting like the Mona Lisa. It is THAT kind of note in gaming history, and it's a work that only could have been painted by Treasure.
@wrathchild89203 жыл бұрын
Been waiting patiently for this video to drop! Happy easter to you and yours bro. Thanks for your hard work.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
You're welcome! And I hope you enjoy and it makes your Easter that much more entertaining. This one was really fun.
@js200gb3 жыл бұрын
Love your videos! More Timmy, please! Whoo doggy! Mars Matrix is my favorite of these. Love the “chunky” graphics and the unlockables that make it more do-able and more fun too play. Especially the one that makes the chain time longer. If you streamed games ever, I’d love to watch!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Man if I ever manage to snag that cloning machine from Amazon I'll definitely start doing some streams. It's been back ordered for years 😂 But it's always in the back of my mind. Timmy will be back in the next episode of shmups for beginners... Timmy vs the euroshmup! Stay tuned 😂
@reagandow8503 жыл бұрын
The most bad-ass shmup show on KZfaq!! Hillbilly or not, the Shmup Junkie’s got it GOING ON!!! 💪
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Ha thanks man. I am just having fun with these. Sooner or later Timmy is going to get me into hot water doing something too stupid, but until then, the show must go on. 👍
@reagandow8503 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie - Timmy is the shiz! Do t you dare ever get PC on us!!! Long live Timmy!!! ;)
@Steve_UK773 жыл бұрын
Personally... I fall into that category with Ikaruga of really wanting to love it. Everything about on paper is fantastic but it stresses me out so badly its always more of an ordeal than enjoyable experience! Great video as always, can't wait for your next one.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. You and me both, but like I said in the video, watching expert players run some levels is so damn cool, more fun than trying to do it myself. You know it's good, but just too crazy to get good enough to play it that way.
@Silverghosts3 жыл бұрын
You ever have a game that you remember extremely fondly, because it was some of the most fun you've had with it, and then years later, the title escapes you? All I remember about this game, is that it was a horizontal shmup, the vehicle could transform and at the end, you raced out of the core of the planet. I played it on a MAME emulator, but man...It hurts my soul that I can't remember the name of it. I'd give up so many games, just to have a chance at playing it one more time with my dad.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Man, if you could just remember which console it was for, that would narrow it down a lot and we could probably help figure it out. Throw out some ideas. Escaping the core at the end is pretty common haha, the transforming part not as much.
@Silverghosts3 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie Honestly, I think it was something that was arcade exclusive, but it'd be a lot easier if i could remember the names of the bosses back then. It used to announce them before the fights. I'll probably remember it some day, I still have my modded xbox and the MAME emulator still works. enough searching and I'll find it someday
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
@@Silverghosts Dang arcade does make it harder as it could be anything. If you do remember let me know as now I’m also curious 🧐
@Silverghosts3 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie If I ever figure it out, you'll be the first to know my friend. It'd be a game I'd like to see reviewed, even if it turns out to be average in terms of Shmups, it's got a special place in my heart because I cleared the whole game with my dad.
@philmason96533 жыл бұрын
Mars Matrix was the first manic shmup I ever took a run at. I never could get the 1cc, but I pushed myself to plow through & unlock BG graphic. It gave me legit PTSD, I couldn't even look at the game without getting numb for the next two decades. Gunbird 2 is my favourite shmup period. That one's near impossible too, but I have a very different relationship with it due to understanding the genre better these days and it generally being a cheerful world to spend time in. For beginner shmups, I think Thunder Force AC on Switch is a great one to look at. Legendary dev, legendary series, great game, not a pushover (except for the early bosses), but very doable for an average player.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Good recommendation for Switch, I forgot it was on there. My fault for not seeing this comment sooner or I would have included it in my video. That and Thunder Force III seem the most accessible of the series. I agree with you on Gunbird, it's just a fun and inviting game. I think that's why so many like it even if it kicks their butt pretty quick. I haven't 1CC'd it or Mars. I can get to the last stage on Mars but then it starts wrecking you, I used continues. Not enough practice yet. Same with Gunbird. It's Ok at first, but if you don't die long enough the bullets get crazy fast.
@D-A-K3 жыл бұрын
Oh man. I only played a bit of Border Down but that music took me right back.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
That game is just killer all around, start to finish. One of their best and the definition of a hidden gem.
@benjismith5933 жыл бұрын
Well I was going to head into work early, but Shmup Junkie has to post a new 52 minute video. There needs to be a Saturn Shmup collection series. I missed out on all of them. And bless all of you that can play, and love Ikaruga 🤣
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Hahaha, you know I always start every video with the goal of keeping it around 30-40 min and it almost never happens. Especially with 5 games and all kinds of cool guest footage to show. I figure people may watch it in segments. I did do a Top 5 brutal video for Saturn way back and it's a fun one too, but yeah, I really will do an overall Saturn video someday. So many exclusive and great games on there that need to be highlighted.
@NLSagat3 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie yeah the vids feel like 15 mins, that just shows how entertaining they are! And with you referencing the neo geo i had to watch that one again as well!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
@@NLSagat that last Hope segment was a lot of fun to script haha. More fun then playing it that’s for sure 🤣
@gustavolobo4314 Жыл бұрын
I somehow have no problem surviving Ikaruga, I must be very defensive since I admire how aggressive you are in these games!
@ShmupJunkie Жыл бұрын
Mars Matrix? I’m not sure it’s even possible to not play aggressive haha. That last stage still kicks my ass though. Bullet hell isn’t my strength.
@Philoreason3 жыл бұрын
I still remember the first time I saw Ikaruga in the arcade in Tokyo while I was traveling (like 20yrs ago) it absolutely blew my mind!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
I never did see it in Arcades. First time I ever played it was on Dreamcast. I can imagine how popular it must have been in Japanese arcades!
@temmaxtemma95703 жыл бұрын
i need to say that i really appreciate this video. 👍
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thank you, I had fun making it. I appreciate your comment and watching.
@SpidersSTG3 ай бұрын
Just got the context for the Mars Matrix joke recently (and binge watched the whole channel)… brilliant gag for an intro!!
@miltiadiskoutsokeras91893 жыл бұрын
I started to believe in aliens when I saw a person finishing arcade version Ikaruga, no miss, playing both players, one hand per stick. Video games are like musical instruments, cannot do a Van Halen solo on your first tries.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Were they using their third alien hand to actually fire and change polarity for both players at the same time? 😅
@miltiadiskoutsokeras91893 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie I shit you not. I will find the video and share here.
@miltiadiskoutsokeras91893 жыл бұрын
kzfaq.info/get/bejne/a8B1etyjqtS8op8.html this is one case, but I will try to find the complete run.
@luckyrockmore27963 жыл бұрын
I remember this back in the day! 🤯🤯🤯
@thegreathadoken68083 жыл бұрын
I don't play Mars Matrix for all the reasons Timmy so capably pointed out. Smart guy, that Timmy. He speaks for those of us who suck at shooters. IF I'm honest though, I do occasionally play ALL these games. Briefly.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Timmy speaks for all of us who enjoy watching people get kicked in the balls repeatedly too hahah, which is kind of what playing some of these games is like. I got a fun Idiocaracy reference with ol' tim coming up in the next vid.
@miketate34453 жыл бұрын
Let's get a Spartacus thing going: I play Ikaruga for survival.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
I play ikaruga for survival... and poorly may I add haha. I learned recently that playing for chain actually makes it easier (supposedly) once you figure it out, as you get a lot more extends for scoring better.
@morsalty3 жыл бұрын
Awsome as always! Thanks for giving the best genre more well deserved love.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching and helping the video get out there. I'll be doing my best to keep it growing and bring in new players as long as everyone enjoys it, because I am.
@tom11zz8843 жыл бұрын
Nothing like reviewing original hardware shooters Giga Wing 2 is my all time favorite.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Yeah both Giga Wing games are super fun, and not quite as crazy as Mars even though they're plenty hard too. Very little "easy" shmups to choose from in this generation, it was mostly experts and fans playing at that point. But I've got a good shmups for beginners video coming soon.
@fireproofneo3 жыл бұрын
Excellent work as always! Bravo!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it and I'm already looking forward to the next one I do, though it may be a bit painful if I do NES. Old school 8bit difficulty.
@salemite3 жыл бұрын
I absolutely love Ikaruga, and I will never be more than amateur at it. I will always collapse by stage 4 on even my best runs and I just don't have the fortitude to dedicate the time to get beyond that. I will always come back to it, because it is just that beautiful.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Stage 4 is the death of the second wave. Good enough to play it until it really lays the smack down. If I haven’t played in a long while that stage is the death of me too. Very much a love it or hate it game, but those who love it really do!
@JogosMofados3 жыл бұрын
I recall the day I finally beat Mars Matrix. Used up all my continues, but it was glorious :). Although Ikaruga is one of the most different shooters, and definitely not for everyone, I did enjoy a lot up to the point I was able to beat it 1CC on easy on the Gamecube back in the day, which made me quite proud - yeah, not as proud as if I played on normal, but whatever. Though I was nowhere near getting all those combo chains people do online, just enough to enjoy the minimalist plot - and I'm glad they did translate the haikus before each stage in the PS4/Switch version. Thanks for bringing back some memories! :)
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Finishing it on an any mode is a feat, you should be proud of it. Sometimes the normal mode can be easier, as the extra bullets they fire back you can absorb faster for your homing laser. Mars takes me a credit or two to finish as well, I'm not good enough at it yet, especially that crazy final stage woof. I picked up the Switch version myself even, as I didn't have any other US copy only my Japan DC original, so it's good to have. I still have illusions that I'll someday find the time and get much better at it 😂
@JogosMofados3 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie interesting, I didn't know Mars Matrix was available for the Switch. Though the Dreamcast version is the one that makes me nostalgic, it's good that is available for more people now.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
@@JogosMofados oh no sorry, I meant ikaruga on switch. Mars isn’t on there far as I know.
@JogosMofados3 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie I see, that's a piity, Mars Matrix does deserve a re-release nowadays. The buzz system was pretty unique.
@Renegaiden_3 жыл бұрын
I thoroughly enjoyed this series as usual. I often watch Boarder Down gameplay and I thought I learned how the game works, but I had no idea it was rank based. Top 5 hardest shmups for sure. And the ost is number 1 in my heart. Btw, please bring back hilbilly timmy. That accent was A-1
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Haha my accent got nuthin on the original xoxak but it was fun trying. BD is pretty complex yeah. Your initial starting choice decides the rank from the beginning, but after that it’s mostly how you survive and not the actual border colors that determine it. Some sections are just harder than others. Figuring it all out is definitely part of the fun and exploring the levels, whether one beats it or not. And the music is ace. It’s criminally unknown for how good it is.
@BigJuffer3 жыл бұрын
Wow mate, what a video! I thought I knew which games were coming then you threw in the curveball at the end. And I think we all agree about Ikaruga! After level 1 it's all about survival. I'm off to get wrecked by Mars Matrix.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Mars Matrix is a one shmup wrecking crew haha, but it's always fun up until it lays the smack down. I did want to do something different for that last game, and it's not too well known, so it was good to highlight. Also I wasn't about to even consider playing Last Nope again 😂
@thajo3103 жыл бұрын
Another outstanding video, keep up the good work
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks! I'm trying and enjoying it every time.
@SuperLlama423 жыл бұрын
Excuse me, but Ikaruga was my first shmup, and I never made it past stage FOUR, thank you very much.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Haha. Ikaruga was many other people’s not first shmup, possibly there twenty first, and they didn’t make it past stage four either 😅. In fact if it was one’s first and they made it past stage two or three, that’s already impressive.
@MikeMoranX133 жыл бұрын
Man I miss my DREAMCAST! I had all of these back in the day. Good stuff man love your channel!!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
I wish I had kept a lot of my old DC games, it was a great system I really enjoyed. We all wish it lasted longer, but it produced plenty of gems we all still remember, aside from shmups.
@luckyrockmore27963 жыл бұрын
Man get one with a gdemu, you wont be sorry! Do the DCDIGITAL and play on modern tvs! 👍👍
@Dirk1Steele3 жыл бұрын
Another awesome video. Keep up the great work
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks! I enjoyed making it and am already knee deep in the next one.
@danmakuman3 жыл бұрын
I'm just plain bad on all the games you reviewed here lol Great video bro, getting better and better.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks dude! Anyone is bad at these games unless they've played them a ton, they are hard as hell. The later gen the consoles get, the harder the games seem to be, with the exception being the NES. Of all these games, NeoXYX is the one I can do really well in simply because it's my kind of game. Ikaruga kicks my ass the most after stage 3, I just can't "get it" without playing it a ton. Then I stop and forget it all haha
@ridho393 жыл бұрын
I hate playing Ikaruga but I love watching a good player play it
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
So say we all... well at least some of us 😓
@DewShick9 ай бұрын
xoxak's review opened my eyes on mars matrix unironically. you can play the game for exp (which is kept between the deaths and is similar to scoreplay). that way, you gather the bullets and throw them in some enemy, then they turn in golden cubes, and you have to chain-collect these to get more exp and more score, the more exp you get the stronger you become
@unity69263 жыл бұрын
Wow! I never thought I would see that one mars matrix/ giga wing review referenced and yet here it is! Incredible stuff. Dang ol football helmet.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Ha! Well if I was going to do Mars Matrix, and homage had to be paid to the classic. I almost did similar for Gunbird 2 but figured on shmup video saying really big hooters was enough. 😅
@dextersbeard3472 Жыл бұрын
Last Hope is hands down one of the hardest SHMUPs on the console. Especially the original which is alot harder than the Pink Bullets version which is still brutal.
@ShmupJunkie Жыл бұрын
We’ve grown to call it Last Nope! Lol Yeah the only reason I didn’t include it here as I did the original version in the Neo Geo hardest video. Super funny segment too I had a good time making it. Well no I didn’t have a good time playing it haha. But it made for great material. That soundtrack though is out of this world good. So good I bought the CD.
@RodrigoGarciaCarmona3 жыл бұрын
Another great video! Your channel is turning into a really great resource, since most videos are long, in-depth and carefully done, perfect for repeating views when I finally decide to tackle some of the shmups you already featured. Good job! For the next "hardest" video, please go with the NES/Famicom. When talking about shmups, it's usually ignored, and it's my irreplaceable first love.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
You and me both man, I'm a huge NES kid and it was the system I grew up with and cut my teeth on too before the Turbo stole me away. I will make sure to do it justice as it's a wonderful system. It will be hard to pick out the games as there are so many incredibly good and hard ones.
@luckyrockmore27963 жыл бұрын
I remember a video back in the day of a player playing both first and second player at the same time and being amazed. I never got my hands on the "appreciate dvd" either. I really enjoyed this game RIP Liksang!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Which game were they playing? Funny you mention that, as there was a game not long ago, a small indie game called Raging Blasters, that some I know were playing two players on their own. To the point where the dev made a mode with playing that way in mind for a single person, a pretty cool idea.
@luckyrockmore27963 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie Ikaruga, was the game one player using each hand for each player....I seen another comment on here where someone else mentioned it as well. Mind blown!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
@@luckyrockmore2796 Yeah I can barely play ikaruga with both hands let alone one! 🤣 Now that you mention it that sounds familiar.
@luckyrockmore27963 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie ha! Same! 🤣
@DragonGrafx-162 жыл бұрын
I am glad I found this video... I never knew about Neo XYX. The Dreamcast version also seems to be unobtainium now as a physical copy but I found an ISO of it so I can't wait to try in on my Dreamcast.
@ShmupJunkie2 жыл бұрын
If you think the DC version is unobtanium try finding the Neo Geo carts haha. Impossible. I was lucky enough to grab the DC game when they were for sale. It's not like you can buy one any more even if you wanted to, so an ISO is the only way to go.
@_nightkid833 жыл бұрын
Your channel rocks 😎 I can’t stop watching your videos!!! Bravo 🙂
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying them and I'll keep doing my best. Trying to finish up a beginner shmups video for the weekend.
@ShmupsBR3 жыл бұрын
I couldn't agree more on Mars Matrix. I remember playing it back in the day and saying "what the hell is going on? Is anyone supposed to beat this game?". I wonder if there's any slowdown on the arcade version, which was eliminated on the DC version, like what happened to Gigawing.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Never did understand why they removed slowdown from so many ports. It was common on Saturn, PS1 and DC games, many ports really. Games that had it designed specifically as necessary for how it played, like Dodonpachi on Saturn. As if the game isn't hard enough haha.
@jordanjackson61513 жыл бұрын
GB2 was actually the 1st shmup I ever bought. I only did it because it was the type of game I'd eventually buy when I'd grow old enough to afford such - but by then it was on a next gen system. I would've gotten R-Types or Thunder Force 2, 3, and 4 (which I did but way later) but being that it was the 2000's I knew I couldn't find anything 16 bit on the market. Then I got an Amazon & EBAY account years later. My shmup collection had since grown.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
It's painful buying on ebay these days. Game prices are out of control and many are overcharging. If you still like collecting, the best place I found is through good Facebook collectors groups. It seems to be a popular platform for them, and I have found most of my good deals through people I met there and the groups. Ebay is kind of a last resort these days. Collecting shmups especially can be an expensive hobby haha
@jordanjackson6151 Жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie I've actually beaten GB2 on Normal twice back when I was 19. A few months ago I just moved into my first home. That gem of a game (along with 85% of my shmup collection from my moms house) is indeed with me. CIB forever.
@basilrush773 жыл бұрын
Hi Junkie! You certainly have a good way with words to encourage people to give 'being brutaly eliminated' a go 😁 These are the type of shooters that you shouldn't play too soon before bed, because you would you be so high on adrenaline that you wouldn't sleep for hours afterwards, in some cases I have found myself still playing that game in my head! 😂 Anyway, love your vids dude, your passion for Shmups really shines through them ❤✨👍
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks man! I’m with you completely I can NOT play shmups late before bed. I always relax with more chill affairs. It takes a certain type to enjoy getting reamed by these games, but part of it is not taking it too seriously and expecting it. Knowing the process. I honestly can’t say any of these games are enjoyable for the simple goal of being great at them. I’m not. But when you just pick up and play for fun it changes things. And that’s a perspective we used to have with shooters back in the day that got lost with all the expert games. I’m working on a beginner shmups video next!
@basilrush773 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie Great idea! I look forward to it 🙌
@TheElectricUnderground3 жыл бұрын
Morgan in gunbird 2 is really cool :-) would love to see more crossovers like this. Maybe Dizzy in a cave game ha. I d say gunbird 2 is the hardest dream cast shmup, the first loop is brutal, but the 2nd loop is downright insane
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
I honestly don’t know who plays the second loop in Gunbird 2 and has a recorded 2-All. I did find one on KZfaq but you never know how legit they are. Just the first stage on loop 2 was bad enough 🤣
@kurisuchiinathecrocodile3333 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie maybe there is something on nicovideo? japanese's youtube
@user-ex5wc7fy2d3 жыл бұрын
Top content as always. I feel myself like paralysed one-handed dinosaur when watching your performance )) Though it's awesome to see you just make impossible. Great videos!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
😂 Like a t-rex with tiny arms, I got a funny visual. That is how I feel when I watch experts play, like I am playing one handed. Happy you are enjoying the videos and thank you for that.
@unlimitedretrogaming3 жыл бұрын
Impressive top notch video my friend!! I need to break it down a little: 1.- I am gonna go with team Timmy here and not play Mars Matrix LOL 2.- GUNBARDA 2 is a perfect shooter that I have yet to beat (still some pendind business with the first one in normal mode...yes, I know) 3.- Love how you left the Psikyo Collection title screen running in the back 4.- looking forward to try Border Down and 5.- your brutal comments regarding Ikaruga players and reviewers are fantastic 👍🏻🤣 would LOVE to see some NES love soon after the beginners video soon!!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Aww man Mars Matrix is a cool game. You might like it. Timmy is just a big complainer haha. If you can play Gunbird 2 you can play almost anything, that games is nuts. But I would try Border Down first knowing your taste as it's so similar to G Darius I think you'll like it. NES shooters is going to happen too. I have to prepare myself for the old school 8bit style of difficulty that we know all too well 😓
@unlimitedretrogaming3 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie all right then, not gonna listen to Timmy and go with your recommendation!! Looking forward to seeing some NES hard games!!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Timmy gets his hillbilly on for Mars Matrix! It's the Top 5 Hardest Shmups on the Sega Dreamcast. What are the two best reasons to use Morrigan in Gunbird 2? Find out! Support me on PATREON www.patreon.com/shmupjunkieslushfund ✅ Subscribe To My Channel ➡️ Join my Discord: discord.gg/AKzmgUbk Chapters: 00:00 - Go Play Mars Matrix (Takumi) 06:10 - Ikaruga by Treasure 17:09 - Gunbird2 by Psikyo 26:18 - Border Down by GRev 40:48 - NeoXYX by NGDevTeam 51:07 - What's Next? Huge shout out to MAZ STG and his incredible gameplay for Ikaruga! Check out his full videos and channel here: kzfaq.info/love/sDBgXIZNy1Jn7l2vdsV48g Also check out the full Border Down 1CC 6A run by CHINOPOLIS, featured in this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jbScjKiYnazRYmg.html
@alfredocanas68023 жыл бұрын
"Can't have my cornbread" jajaja!! that was a hell of a one liner.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
😂 I had to think of something fun to end it with or he would've gone on with those ramblings for another five minutes.
@arrowviper88823 жыл бұрын
Loved the video, as always! Ikaruga is my nr. 1 shmup so I think you did a great job covering its details. On one hand I’ve seen youtubers rave about how god it is and in the same video admit they didn’t make it past level 3. Did you play it more than once? On the other hand I’ve seen snobs commenting on reviews, criticizing it cause they didn’t chain. That’s for experts! I think chaining is the equivalent of speedrunning a game. It’s not for everyone but the game becomes better if the designer thought about that aspect. What I’m trying to say is that you don’t have to play with all the games layers to enjoy it. That’s what makes it so good!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks man. Yeah it's not easy to cover a game that one personally doesn't love playing, but it turned out to be one of my favorite segments. I'm glad how it came out and I think even those who love the game can appreciate the result. Unlike scoring in most games where it's a "bonus" for more replay and added depth, I always felt that Ikaruga was designed for chaining, almost as it's main focus. I had someone recently tell me they had an easier time finishing it once they forced themselves to learn that, as it gives out so many more extends that way from score, it makes powering through and dying more often attainable versus just trying to survive on the limited lives you get. Either way, watching MAZ play the game is freaking awesome. Anyone can appreciate that.
@jgn9 ай бұрын
I played ikaruga for survival and I adore it to be fair it is my second 1cc and the treasure devteam said outright "unlike radiant silvergun you dont need to play for score"
@emperorofrohan3 жыл бұрын
Definitely wanna see a PS2 one. My vote for number 1 would go to Dragon Blaze. That game is just insane. Yet so badass.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
ugh, don't remind me. Killer game, but between that and Ibara it's going to be extremely painful 😂
@ctdjazz2 жыл бұрын
never thought i'd see a xoxak reference in my life... but here i am. go play mars matrix.
@ShmupJunkie2 жыл бұрын
How could I do a Mars Matrix bit and not pay those xoxak videos some homage. It was a requirement.
@Midekai3 жыл бұрын
I remember playing mars matrix on an actual arcade cabinet way back before the dreamcast version came out. It was so hard that I never ended up picking up the home version. I lost a lot of quarters that day lol
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Lol I don't know if the arcade version is even harder, but the DC version is hard enough. It's super fun though, honestly it's worth playing. Even if you hit a wall around stage 3 or so. I hit a wall on that last level.
@TheGregoryodd8 ай бұрын
“I’ll stick with the 300-year-old succubus, thanks” 😂😂😂
@benjismith5933 жыл бұрын
Watched it all. Great video as always! Can't wait for the introductory video! I'll give you one I like on the Genesis. It's Fire Shark put out by Dreamworks, but made by Toaplan. It has a nice, gradual , ramp up. Plus it's made by Toaplan so you can't go that wrong.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks! And yes Fire Shark on mega drive is a good entry level game. I didn't get to do a dedicated segment for it, but I plan to include it in a list I am adding for more games to check out that I couldn't cover. There are so many and plenty of room left for part 2. The new video is out this morning in just an hour or so!
@RewindArcade3 жыл бұрын
These are all WAY too tough for me but I am a huge Ikaruga fan since it was probably the most unique shooter I’d ever seen. Gunbird 2 definitely also wrecked me back in the day, haha!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
These games wreck everyone that plays them so don't take it to heart... they require so much dang practice to have a remote shot at doing well. Even one stage at a time practicing with saves they are brutal. The only part that matters to me is if I'm having fun playing them. Some a lot, others not so much and it feels more like a chore. Gunbird 2 is always fun I keep coming back to it as it's such a quick game to play.
@hooksnfangs60063 жыл бұрын
Great vid Junkie! I always wished I had a Dreamcast. Nice to hear another person call out those Ikaruga reviews lol. I like playing Ikaruga for survival but I'll never play for score. The moment I tried playing for score was the moment it became "torture". I just want to shoot and dodge/eat bullets rather than chain!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
The DC was a wonderful machine and I enjoyed it while it lasted, even if it was short lived. I just learned something today, that if you play Ikaruga for score, you can gain a ton of extends pretty easily from chaining well enough and 1CC it even if you die a dozen times. It would still require you to learn and play for chain though. So yeah, it's a game designed to be played technically. So it's brilliant, but not for everyone, especially those that just want to blow stuff up and not sweat the details.
@integrationdesigngroup79973 жыл бұрын
Great videos!!! Psvariar 2 is a tough and great game, with a unique mechanic.
@cat_god_studio4023 жыл бұрын
The video is still great, I will continue to follow it, thanks for sharing
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thank you, glad you enjoy and I appreciate you watching
@sdmayday2 жыл бұрын
Ikaruga might be difficult, but it is a game that even I can enjoy, as overcoming the difficulty can be done by learning which feels very satisfieing as you make constant progress. It is less about having reflexes like a robot, or not being able to identify bullets fast enough like in other games. I am talking about you, Battle Garrega! When I look at my experiences with shmups - I have tried many and "like" a good number of them, Ikaruga plays in its very own league along with TFIV and Radiant Silvergun. All three of these games have been designed with console gamers in mind. I wonder if this is a coincidence or not.
@AnthonyFlack3 жыл бұрын
I feel the same way about Ikaruga. And the black/white thing is clever but I find it mentally tiring to think about. It makes the game too taxing for me to enjoy. Just too much to think about. Gotta respect it, don't much want to play it. And Gunbird 2, that is my go-to Psikyo game too. Sometimes straightforward is better. And finally, my copy of Eschatos has turned up today so now I am about to finally PLAY ESCHATOS. I already tried Judgement Silversword and I'm already impressed. That little game is fun as hell.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Oh man you gotta tell me later what you thought of Eschatos once you put enough time into it. Even on the easy mode to learn the game where enemies don’t fire too many bullets, it’s still fun as heck. It’s not a crazy hard game but beating it on normal is a solid challenge. I’ve yet to stop enjoying picking it up to play.
@AnthonyFlack3 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie - I surely will as I already have a lot of thoughts about it already. I really appreciate that they have a proper easy mode that is still a lot of fun. I tell you what though, I'm not actually ready to move on from Judgement Silversword yet. A similar hit in a purer form, in some ways. Can't believe it was Wonderswan homebrew. Imagine having this game running on a pocket system in 2001. Might have to chase up a Wonderswan flash cart because every Wonderswan deserves this game. It should have been huge.
@louisgorenfeld5702 жыл бұрын
Ahh I loved Ikaruga back in the day, when I still had the patience for games like that and Mars Matrix. I never intended to max chain everything (yes, that stage 4 boss weeded me out and my chain would die by the end of st3), but I enjoyed figuring out what to do to max chain without peeking, and more importantly figure out how I can not drop my own chain at my current skill level. Both of those games require dedication to the point that you cannot take time off, though. So, these days I just do easier stuff when the DC is hooked up. Very thorough and fair video! You know which one I found was completely brutal was Chaos Field. I don't know that I made it to stage 3.
@todd_stein3 жыл бұрын
I appreciated the Ren and Stimpy reference.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
I’ll squeeze them in every chance I get 😅
@bill59743 жыл бұрын
Still cherish my DC original copies of Ikaruga and Border Down. I have all of these for DC apart from XYX which I'm gonna have to pick up. Excellent vid.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
I was glad to jump on XYX before it got too out of hand, but the prices are still reasonable in terms of DC games, so get it while you can. I'd love to find the Neo version but it's just too crazy money and rare. I'm glad I got BD when I did that one skyrocketed to some crazy prices.
@michaelcarr63823 жыл бұрын
These videos are fantastic. I love them . Can we get one on good beginner shmups. I can only recommend Habroxia to my friends and I don't have your vast knowledge. I like bullet hell games . Makes it hard to recommend anything other then those type of games
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Absolutely I've been planning one for a while now, putting my list together and ideas of how to show them all. It will happen.
@michaelcarr63823 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie as always your the man
@SleepingCocoon3 жыл бұрын
loads of coincidences here that line up with my past couple weeks! was just binging xoxak last week, i've revisited his videos every year or so for the past decade and always get a laugh. "this cannon shoots you into this awful world" is exactly how i feel about Ikaruga! also finally got a GDEMU for my Dreamcast after having laser assemblies fail time and time again, and while it's far from my favorite console, it was fun to dig back into it - especially with those new Atomiswave conversions (no more dealing with the Atomiswave board, good riddance!). i came back around to check out Border Down again after not clicking with it time and time again, and wouldn't you know it, this time it sunk its hooks right in! could hardly put it down and managed to get to stage 4G! what a game.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Haha I should've watched his Ikargua video again too before doing mine, I forgot that line. I did watch the Gunbird one and funny enough how he uses Morrigan too like I do, though refrained from any really big hooters commentary 😅. Those usb upgrades for the drive are awesome. I have an old one from a while back, a gd-usb that works fine too and I play a bunch of games that way. I'm glad you gave BD another shot it's a kick ass game... just hard too appreciate at first when it's making you feel like a chump.
@jbmaru3 жыл бұрын
I have Ikaruga, hate its difficulty but love its execution and in particular the music. The game is just 17MB in size, so all that great music is generated by the synthesizer in the console! I heard of Gryzor for the first time when ZPF on the Mega Drive was announced, so thanks for the background on the man. I can see some similarities between the XYX and ZPF graphics.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
I did a video review for Super XYX a while back and did a deep dive into Gryzor and his games, how it all developed. He is a very unique dude. ZPF looks freaking awesome I can't wait for that one. It looks very much his style. I didn't know that about Ikaruga and it being that small? My rom was larger but who knows what else is burned onto the disc.
@jbmaru3 жыл бұрын
@Shmup Junkie Thanks, just watched it and gave it its 444th like for 4 dislikes, cos I liked the look of that :)
@gilavalos2400 Жыл бұрын
Ikaruga just kicks the casual shootem up fan's ass. It was bullet hell at its finest.
@danholo3 жыл бұрын
I suck at Ikaruga. I love it. I used to make it to level 4 at least. Maybe even 5! Played it a lot on Gamecube back in the day. It's kind of a perfect game, usual to Treasure. I got good scores in levels 1 and 2 but after that it goes downhill. Man, I wish the music was orchestrated. It's so epic. I used to watch that playthrough where this guru played the game in two player mode with two sticks. Perfect score (IIRC). Oh man.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
I've been hearing about that two handed Ikaruga play but haven't seen it myself. That's pretty crazy and I wonder which third hand they were using to push the fire button and change polarity. You're right stage 4 gets out of hand quick and takes a ton of practice and memory to get down. That flower is a real mindbender at first.
@danholo3 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie here's chapter 3. just search double play ikaruga and you'll find the videos. reminds me of what genius this game is. i remember the music for chapter 1 being a high tempo, then chapter 2 starting fast and slowing down, then the beginning of chapter 3 slow and then it pumps up. the game is like symphony. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/j5uamLuC1NTXhmg.html
@Razorblade18122 жыл бұрын
18:10 "My Marvel Vs. Capcom sweetheart in a SHMUP?! Retro Force, eat your f***n' heart out......" That was literally my reaction of when I saw Morrigan in the Dreamcast version of Gunbird 2 when I saw the review of it by RPKVids back in late 2010 or early 2011. Of first seeing her when I played Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo on the PlayStation way back in 2003, then seeing her and ultimately falling in love with her in Marvel vs. Capcom in 2004, also on the PlayStation, and then 6 years later, in a shmup....... Wow......
@Borh77773 жыл бұрын
Hello. Thank you very much for this great video. Everyone can have different opinions and mine is différent on Ikaruga. I am not a superplayer, I don't have enough time to be. And I take great pleasure to play Ikrauga just for survival and by ignoring the chaining system. I think the challenge to survive until the end is an interesting and enjoyable challenge by itself. I don't have any problem to admit I am not the best player in the world and won't master perfectly a game like Ikaruga (or any other game). For a normal player that don't play it for scoring, I find it less demanding than Radiant Silvergun. In Radiant Silvergun you can't ignore the scoring system because the powers up depend on it. In Ikaruga, you can completely ignore the scoring system and just play for survival, that is not a problem. Maybe that's because I am not a perfectionist or a completionist by spirit.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
You're welcome and I am really glad you enjoyed it. Most people don't have the skills and time to master Ikaruga, it's too technical of a game. I had someone recently tell me that if you play Ikaruga for chaining, once you learn, it makes it easier to finish. You get many more extra lives by scoring higher in the early levels, so it rewards you. I am going to try that next time I play and see if it helps. It's not easy just to survive, if I haven't played it for a long time I never can. I am like you I mostly play for fun and don't try to become an expert in most games I play. I just want to have fun with it. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
@thewingedavenger10073 жыл бұрын
Awesome vid!
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
@prehistogeek70903 жыл бұрын
Great job as always 👍 informative and pleasant to watch! 👏 I just wish I had seen Karous in your selection 😋
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
It was close! That's a really cool game I haven't played in a long time. Giga Wing was close too, but so many good games on DC. I will do another video one day of my favorite DC games, not the hardest. For Saturn too.
@ghostmouthzach563 жыл бұрын
Sunday Gold! Mars Matrix is a tough one although being able to use a Saturn pad for it makes it a bit easier.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
A Saturn pad is about all I use to play any STG these days if I can help it, it's so much easier on the thumb since I don't use a stick often. Mars Matrix is so damn fun even if I don't think I really play it the right way.
@Inuyasha4632 жыл бұрын
I've got to disagree with the sentiment that the only shmup gods that play Ikaruga for score actually enjoy it. I bought Ikaruga on the gamecube back in the day as my first shmup, and I loved the process of trying to figure out how to survive until the end using the limited credits they give you in the beginning on the Gamecube version. The levels were more like puzzles to solve, but ones that required me to be constantly focused and on the edge of my seat. It was addictive. In fact, I loved it so much it inspired me go out and pick up Gradius V and R-Type Final on my PS2 as well. I never 1CC'd Ikaruga, but I kept improving and even tried getting better at scoring, which I rarely care about, because I wanted to spend more time with the game. So regular, mediocre players like me really can enjoy the game, and it can even make you a shmup fan as it did for me, but I think it really depends on what you play shooters for.
@dorbei3 жыл бұрын
The self-adjusting difficulty/AI that SJ explains in detail on "Border Down" is also know as "rubberbanding" and most frequently used in racing games, though in the latter case it is mostly criticised and reviled by gamers: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_game_difficulty_balancing
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
For whatever reason, I never liked it in racing games either and I don't know why. It felt like you were way ahead and deserved to be, and suddenly some cars behind would get ultra fast and catch up unrealistically. Maybe because it doesn't mirror true racing where that couldn't really happen, and you feel like you drove well and earned that lead and had it artificially taken away. At least that was my take. I guess in shmups it's often expected, as Rank is a know quantity and common in the genre, almost expected. But it's also divisive and I think blocks out many more casual players too. The ability/option in a menu to turn off and have a set difficulty is a positive to me. It's even something M2 did in some ports, like for the infamous Battle Garegga and it's rank. In the PS4 port you can actually turn it off and customize, really cool feature for an often impenetrable game.
@Nitroxity3 жыл бұрын
I would love to see a video on hardest NES shooters... I suck hard at it but Summer Carnival 92 Recca is a game I will always love getting my ass kicked by. Really experimental music for the time, too, and some of the most impressive visuals on the console. One day I'll shell out the money for the physical cartridge and soundtrack release, but for now I'm a proud owner of the 3DS Virtual Console version and a vintage, rare Japanese strategy guide from the early-mid 2000s that comes with a playthrough of the game on a DVD (judging how it looks like it was a home-burned DVD, the guide was probably an extremely limited fan print run).
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
The NES was near and dear to me so it will absolutely happen. And Recca is one good reason that I fear to get started with it 😂. I actually do own a copy of it with the box and manual from a good while ago when I found a decent deal, but it's crazy tough. And really it's meant to play for high score which is even harder. The NES library was so huge, and some games so obtusely hard, not necessarily good, that it won't be easy coming up with the list. But guaranteed Recca will be on it, for better or worse haha. It really is an impressive game. And anything that says Super Hard Shooting Game at the end credits was clearly designed to be just, that by the chief sadist himself.
@MarcBarkyMarta3 жыл бұрын
"There's three types of people who play Ikaruga. Those who love it; those who hate it, but really try to love it; and those who suck at it and secretly hate it but pretend to love it because everyone tells them they're supposed to." - this covers damn near 99% of people who play the game. I am one of the exceptions (I like and appreciate it, but don’t love it) that falls into the odd 1%. There’s also a category of people that say it’s the greatest shooter of all time despite having played it twice, once or never - also because everyone else told them they’re supposed to love it.
@fcukugimmeausername3 жыл бұрын
want to make Gunbird 2 easier? Use the VGA adapter, lots of slow down, lol.
@ShmupJunkie3 жыл бұрын
Haha good point. I don't know if I ever tried it that way, but I guess if there is any game that could use a bit of slowdown that would be one.
@fcukugimmeausername3 жыл бұрын
@@ShmupJunkie I've got the PAL version though. Not sure if it affects the NTSC version as badly.